"Are these fentiments, which any man, who "is born a Briton, in any circumstances, in "any fituation, ought to be ashamed or afraid "to avow?" Johnson has done ample justice to Milton's poetry: the Criticism on Paradise Loft is a fublime compofition. Had he thought the author as good and pious a citizen as Dr.Watts, he would have been ready, notwithstanding his non-conformity, to do equal honour to the memory of the man. It is now time to close this essay, which the author fears has been drawn too much into length. In the progrefs of the work, feeble as it may be, he thought himself performing the laft human office to the memory of a friend, whom he loved, esteemed, and honoured. His faltem accumulem donis, et fungar inani The author of thefe Memoirs has been anxious to give the features of the man, and the true character of the author. He has not suffered the hand of partiality to colour his excellences with too much warmth; nor has he endeavoured to throw his fingularities too much much into the fhade. Dr. Johnson's failings may well be forgiven for the fake of his vir tues. His defects were spots in the fun. His piety, his kind affections, and the goodness of his heart, present an example worthy of imitation. His works ftill remain a monument of genius and of learning. Had he written nothing but what is contained in this edition, the quantity fhews a life spent in study and meditation. If to this we added the labour of his Dictionary and other various productions, it may be fairly allowed, as he used to say of himself, that he has written his share. In the volumes here presented to the publick, the reader will find a perpetual fource of pleasure and inftruction. With due precautions authors may learn to grace their style with elegance, harmony, and precision; they may be taught to think with vigour and perfpicuity; and, to crown the whole, by a diligent attention to these books all may advance in virtue. |